WeRide, a global autonomous driving company, and Uber have started offering fully driverless Robotaxi rides in Abu Dhabi. These cars operate at Level 4 autonomy, meaning they can drive on their own without a human driver.
This is the first time driverless taxis are being used in the Middle East, and also the first city outside the U.S. where Uber is running fully driverless services. The launch was made possible thanks to Abu Dhabi issuing the world’s first city-level permit for fully driverless Robotaxis outside the United States.
This achievement marks a big step toward bringing large-scale self-driving transportation to the UAE. It was made possible through WeRide and Uber’s ongoing partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) and fleet operator Tawasul.
Public commercial rides with no safety driver inside the car have officially begun, starting on Yas Island. Passengers can now get a WeRide Robotaxi through Uber Comfort or UberX, and they can also choose the new “Autonomous” category — Uber’s first-ever dedicated option for self-driving rides. In October 2025, WeRide received a federal permit allowing fully driverless commercial Robotaxi operations.
After this, the ITC gave WeRide and Tawasul the first license to run a fully driverless Robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi. The first phase will be jointly operated by WeRide and Tawasul using Uber’s platform.
With this fully driverless launch, the new permit, and better vehicle usage, the WeRide–Uber Robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi is expected to reach breakeven soon.
This progress also supports the companies’ plan to expand across the Middle East, eventually scaling to thousands of Robotaxis.
WeRide has had a four-year head start in autonomous driving in Abu Dhabi, operating Robotaxis there since 2021. In 2023, it became the first company in the UAE to get a national license for all types of self-driving vehicles, allowing autonomous testing and operations on public roads across the country, depending on each emirate’s approval.
WeRide is a global leader in autonomous driving and the first publicly listed Robotaxi company. Its self-driving vehicles have been tested or operated in more than 30 cities across 11 countries.
The company is also the first and only tech firm to receive autonomous driving permits in eight regions: China, the UAE, Singapore, Switzerland, France, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the United States. Powered by the flexible and cost-efficient WeRide One platform, the company offers self-driving solutions from Level 2 to Level 4 for mobility, logistics, and sanitation.
WeRide’s impact and innovation have earned it a place on Fortune’s 2025 Change the World and Future 50 lists.
Uber’s mission is to create opportunities through movement. Founded in 2010 to make getting a ride as simple as pressing a button, the company has now completed over 68 billion trips. Today, Uber builds products that help people reach their destinations, while also transforming how people, food, and goods move through cities—opening up new possibilities for everyone.
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